Seattle Slew's Senior Surgeries

On the off chance you haven't heard, Perry Martin and Steve Coburn's homebred California Chrome will try to make history on Saturday by winning the Belmont Stakes and becoming horse racing's first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. And, living and working in one of the world's Thoroughbred meccas, that chestnut colt with the big white blaze and those four white socks is a familiar sight on the television, in newspapers, and across the Internet.

The then 28-year-old Seattle Slew with Mickey and Karen Taylor

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

All this Triple Crown talk made me think of another horse that claimed racing's biggest prize, and remains the only horse to do so undefeated prior to his victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. But Seattle Slew, who won the series of races in 1977, also made headlines as a senior horse when he underwent two major neck surgeries in the early 2000s to alleviate neurologic signs caused by wobbler syndrome. And since wobbler syndrome is a condition most commonly identified in younger horses, Seattle Slew's story is an interesting one all around. Let's take a look back, with some help from some coverage from The Horse and our sister publication The Blood-Horse.

Long before the horse's neurologic problems developed, Seattle Slew, by the stallion Bold Reasoning, was purchased at auction for $17,500 and raced for Mickey and Karen Taylor and Dr. Jim and Sally Hill. Billy Turner trained the colt to win the 1977 Triple Crown, a feat that landed the entire Slew team in the history books. The colt went on to race through the 1978 season, and ultimately earned more than $1.2 million on the track throughout his career.

Seattle Slew entered stud in 1979 at Spendthrift Farm, in Lexington, Kentucky, before moving to Three Chimneys Farm in 1985, where—in 2000—his neurologic problems surfaced and the story of his surgeries begins.

The Blood-Horsereported at the time that his handlers noticed a lack of coordination in the then 26-year-old stallion in January 2000, but he began the breeding season on schedule in mid-February, with seven of the first nine mares he covered getting in foal. The neurologic problem was treated, but Seattle Slew's fertility worsened, and on March 27, 2000, the farm announced that he would be pulled out of the breeding shed to undergo surgery. It was speculated at the time that his reduced fertility might have been associated with treatment for his neurologic problems.

Seattle Slew underwent surgery April 2, 2000, at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Dr. Barrie Grant (DVM, Dipl. ACVS) performed a procedure to fuse a joint between two neck vertebrae that was causing spinal cord compression due to arthritic changes. Fortunately, the surgery and the recovery went off without a hitch.

Following the surgery, fertility tests showed that the stallion's semen had returned to normal. He reentered stud for the 2001 breeding season at the age of 27.

Seattle Slew underwent his first surgery at the age of 26, and his second (seen here) at the age of 28.

Photo: Courtesy Dr. Barrie Grant

Unfortunately, in February 2002, Seattle Slew began showing neurologic signs, and was again taken out of stud duty. Radiographs and a myelogram (a special X ray of the spinal canal that can reveals cervical compression) revealed further spinal cord compression due to arthritic changes in the vertebrae.

The Horsereported at the time, "The compression is at a site other than where the anterior inter-body fusion was performed two years ago. An examination of that area showed the Bagby basket fusion around vertebrae No. 6 and 7 to be functioning properly. Seattle Slew now is troubled by compression between vertebrae No, 4 and 5 and between No. 5 and 6. A Bagby basket will be inserted around each of the two problems areas."

Seattle Slew died 25 years to the day after winning the Kentucky Derby in 1977.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

A few months later on May 7, 2002—25 years to the day after winning the 1977 Kentucky Derby—Seattle Slew, the last living Triple Crown winner, died in his sleep at Hill 'n' Dale with his owners by his side.

We've been without a living Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew's death (Affirmed, who accomplished the feat in 1978 was euthanized in 2001 due to musculoskeletal issues), and I personally think the drought has endured long enough. So as California Chrome prepares to run for history on Saturday, don't forget the last living Triple Crown winner who not only stole a nation's heart on the racetrack, but also overcame significant obstacles in his golden years.

About the Author

Erica

Erica Larson, News Editor, holds a degree in Journalism with an external specialty in Equine Science from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddleseat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in three-day eventing with her OTTB, Dorado. Erica enjoys photography in her spare time.

Comments

The views expressed in the posts and comments of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Horse or Blood-Horse Publications. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the author. All readers are encouraged to leave comments; all points of view are welcome, but comments that are discourteous and/or off-topic may be removed.

It's great he overcame his issues as a senior horse. I loved horse racing until this spring when I saw a racing 2-year-old (which I thought was illegal, I thought they had to be 3) snap both front knees in a race and proceed to try to stand. It was the most horrifying event I've ever witnessed. Since then, I've done research on racehorses and when I see what is being done to these more equines, I refuse to ever again endorse the racing industry.

Robin

03 Jun 2014 5:41 PM

Dear Robin:

I understand your feelings about the horror you observed.

It is so sad. However the same injury could just as easily have happen with the same horse being turned out happily running in the most luscious field of your imagination.

Race horses have a pretty good life and get the greatest care.

When a tragic accident happens, it saddens us all.

Do you decide not to endorse the car, plane, bicycle, etc. etc. ext industries because an unfortunate death has occurred?

Do you eat meat?

I know I can not change your feelings, but one can find good and bad in most things.

Les

03 Jun 2014 6:18 PM

Enjoyed the article and nice to remember Seattle Slew not only a great race horse and sire but an even better patient. He did not have a Bagby Basket but instead was the 3 rd horse to have the new screw in implant that is now known as a Seattle Slew Implant ( thanks to the Taylors) . This implant dramatically reduces intraoperative and postoperative fractures especially in older patients . Over 500 patients have now benefited from this new implant.

Did you see who the 4th sire is on the sire side of the pedigree?

Barrie

Barrie

03 Jun 2014 6:43 PM

It isn't the great one's that face overracing and abuse most of the time, although the murder of Alydar is a gruesome exception; it is the low priced multitude of horses that get run to death and doped to keep them going.The number of horses that die each day on the track is horrifying. The lack of punishment for breeders and trainers who drug and abuse horses is criminal. Every time a horse breaks down on a track in front of fans and cameras it hurts the sport. Eight Belles and Barbaro turned off a number or people who will never go to a race again. Everyone who loves horses needs to make their voice heard in opposition to light punishment for drug violations, overbreeding, and racing horses too old or too young. Every horse shound have owners like those of Seattle Slew and California Chrome. People who love them.

Nancy

03 Jun 2014 8:29 PM

Many thanks for the clarification, Barrie, and thank you for dedicating your life to helping these horses!

And great point! Chrome definitely has some Triple Crown power behind him--his pedigree goes back to both Seattle Slew and the great Secretariat!

Erica

04 Jun 2014 9:35 AM

I think Barrie is talking about Nasrulluh, 4th gen sire on both lines for Seattle Slew

L

04 Jun 2014 5:13 PM

One of the awesome information on Seattle Slew underwent his first surgery at the age of 26, and his second (seen here) at the age of 28.Really I found some great information on it.Thanks.

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